Howe regained the initiative by moving his troops south by sea to threaten Philadelphia. He landed his troops on the west side of the Elk River on August 25, 1777. After a week of rest, Howe marched his troops north toward Philadelphia. Washington responded by marching his army south through Philadelphia to meet Howe. After harassing Howe's advance for a few days, Washington placed his army behind Brandywine Creek. The creek was crossable only at a number of fords. At 4:00 AM of the 10th, while part of his army was engaged in a diversionary attack against Chads Ford, Howe took the bulk of his army on a long march through back roads to cross at Trimble and Jeffries Ford at the end of Washington's unanchored lines. Howe successfully crossed the fords and brought his troops to Osborne Hill, outflanking Washington's troops. The American troops redeployed to try to block the British. At 4:00 PM, the British troops set off down the hill to the music of the British Grenadier. They marched through a hole in the American lines, but the hole was soon plugged. The battle continued for a few hours. Hand to hand desperate fighting ensued. By nightfall, Washington was forced to withdraw. The British had won the day, but Washington's army, while bruised, was still intact.